Cancer care in Wales: what’s improving and what’s not
The Welsh Government has provided an update on efforts to improve cancer services across Wales.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, said a National Cancer Leadership Board has been established and now meets monthly, chaired by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Its workplan covers delivery of the NHS Cancer Improvement Plan, cancer recovery programmes, clinical networks and new research initiatives.
Mr Miles confirmed Wales is moving ahead with a national lung screening programme targeted at people at greatest risk. Once fully implemented, it will cost around £13m per year.
The Quality Statement for Cancer has been updated to set out leadership, accountability and the performance metrics used to monitor services.
In response to a recent advisory report, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the cancer performance target will remain at 75 per cent. This requires that three-quarters of patients should start their first definitive treatment, or be discharged, within 62 days of their cancer being suspected.
Performance remains below that figure, but has improved since a low point of 51.9 per cent in January 2023. It is now around 60 per cent across Wales.
Mr Miles said: “Health boards must do more to improve performance to reach the 75% target for all cancers and reduce the variation we continue to see between cancer types. Improving diagnosis and treatment of cancer will help to improve outcomes for people.”
The Cabinet Secretary added that while health boards are working hard to improve results, rising demand for investigations, expanded screening eligibility and the complexity of new treatments are creating challenges.
He said he would be happy to provide further updates to Members when the Senedd returns from recess.
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